With its California debut now less than a year away, Carnival Panorama’s exterior completion was celebrated at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, during which a commemorative coin was welded to the ship’s mast in a time-honored maritime tradition.

And just like the ship will take its guests on memorable journeys, the coin itself took a memorable journey throughout the state of California before winding up at the Fincantieri shipyard, as captured by the celebratory video released today by Carnival Cruise Line.

The coin ceremony – whose origins can be traced back to the ancient Romans who believed that attaching coins to a ship provided divine protection – signifies the successful completion of Carnival Panorama’s exterior outfitting.

Benoit Clement, Carnival’s senior vice president of newbuilds, represented Carnival at the ceremony with Antonella Cazzin, an employee of Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera for more than 35 years, serving as godmother for this event.

The 133,500-ton Carnival Panorama – the third in the highly successful Vista-class that includes Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon – is set to debut from Long Beach Dec. 11, 2019, marking the first new Carnival ship homeported on the West Coast in 20 years.

As part of the year-long celebration welcoming the new Carnival Panorama to the West Coast, the Carnival AirShip will return with a month-long journey across California, launching on Dec. 31 in conjunction with the line’s first-ever Rose Parade float on New Year’s Day.

The 120-foot Carnival AirShip will journey throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties flying over major cultural moments across California as well as visiting schools, Carnival’s home ports in Long Beach and San Diego, travel agent viewing parties, and select trampoline park locations of Sky Zone, Carnival Panorama’s newest all-ages attraction.

Carnival Panorama will offer many of the innovative indoor and outdoor dining, bar, entertainment and activity options featured on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, including a suspended course, and a massive WaterWorks aqua park with corkscrew slides, a tipping bucket and other attractions promising lots of splash-tastic fun. Smokehouse Brewhouse with BBQ favorites from Food Network star and longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri, along with craft beers brewed on board, will be offered, as well.

A wide range of accommodations will also be available, including spa staterooms with exclusive privileges at the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor, and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool.

Carnival Panorama will make a special three-day voyage on Dec. 11, 2019, followed by the launch of year-round Mexican Riviera cruises beginning Dec. 14, 2019. Voyages will depart from the newly renovated Long Beach Cruise Terminal and feature stops at popular destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.